Walking wet in the desert

Just a Quick excerpt from a letter I found on the net
 
Walking wet in the desert
 
By Lance Kittleson

Today a young female soldier came to be baptized at the large tent that serves as a chapel at Camp Virginia in Kuwait. On one side of the chapel a briefing occurs. On the other the soldier and I stand by the altar: two cobbled wooden shipping crates with no paraments. I quietly read Ephesians 2:8:9 to the her. She had spoken to me days earlier about her fears, her background and her many sorrows, including the sorrow when the pastor from her home church told her she was not worthy to be baptized in Jesus name.
Now on the eve of war, this young trooper wanted to know Jesus was for her, not against her. She wanted to be part of Jesus family. I told her baptism is a gift of God and none of us can ever be good enough for it.
Looking into her eyes, I said,

This is Gods gift to you because he has always loved you. He will never love you more or less than he already does.

Then followed the most unique baptism I have ever done. We had no font and the only congregation was the commanders and staff officers who quizzically looked on. I poured the promise of God in Christ out on the soldiers head from a liter of bottled water. Three times the water of grace flowed off her head and down her cheeks, where it mixed with her tears. I wiped her head with my red farmers bandana and said,

You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.

As I don my helmet with desert camouflage and a cross sewed on the front, snap on the web gear and grab my chemical equipment pack which goes with the gas mask that never leaves a modern day soldiers side, I think how like that gas mask Gods Spirit will go with that young soldier everywhere.
As I waddle along with my 25 pounds of equipment, I carry a liter of water, taking a good gulp every few hundred meters. Soon I realize I am drinking from the same bottle of water that just baptized a new child of God. Maybe that parallels the believers life in Christ too. Baptism is a one time event, but it is also a daily gulping of the gift of Gods love as we trudge through our own deserts of life. For in taking those gulps of daily grace, we can be assured that no matter what our battlers may be, God will never forget us or forsake his children of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Quick Update

Sorry for the lack of posts the past week. I have been real busy at work. Plus afterwork I have been diving into the Alpha release of Microsofts Windows Longhorn Build 4074. I have say it's pretty cool. They have done alot of work in improving the install process and comming up with alot of new interface changes in the file windows. It's like they have taken all the cool things in Mac OS X and merged them in XP to point where it stands out above both currents OS's.

Just a quick note

Thank you to everyone who visits this site and reads my posts. Your comments and opinions are greatly appreciated.

You could not make up stuff this good!

BOSTON: Teresa Heinz Kerry urged her home-state delegates to the Democratic National Convention to restore a more civil tone to American politics, then minutes later told a newspaperman to shove it.

We need to turn back some of the creeping, un-Pennsylvanian and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics, the wife of Sen. John Kerry told her fellow Pennsylvanians on Sunday night at a Massachusetts Statehouse reception.

Click the link to read the whole story.
First Lady Teresa Heinz?

Me Vs. my laptop.

Regular posts will resume on 072604.
Taking some time off to fight with my laptop(doing upgrades).

Immagration

I recieved this via email today. I thought I should post this.  
 
THIS WAS IN THE TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPER

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??? Think about it .  .. All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break.. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all! This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job, didn't he? Read on, please! IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the politically correct crowd began complaining aboutthe possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely made upof descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and womenwho have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become partof our society, learn the language!"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam,then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage youtake advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

No apology is needed if you are speaking the truth.

This is why I voted for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers ... if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men, Schwarzenegger said to the cheering crowd at a mall food court in Ontario.

Click on the link to read the whole story.
Schwarzenegger Stands by 'Girlie Men' Line

The corner stones of our country

In the age of political correctness and Judeo Christian persicution. I thought it both appropriate and necesary to review the 2 Constitutional Amendments that serve as the Corner Stones of our entire existance as a country.
 
Amendment I (1791) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The first Italicized portion of this Amendment is the main point of argument with the Liberal secular groups. The sad part of their stance is that they completely ignore the remaining part of the sentence (or prohibiting the free exercise thereof). When they force god out of the schools, and other public venues they are actually violating our Constitutional rights. It is up to us God fearing Christions to defend our legal rights to worship and pray where ever we see fit. In fact the final portion of the 1st Amendment covers this.

Amendment II (1791) A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
 
The next foundation of our country is the Right to own firearms. Just as the Liberals selective reading of the 1st Amendment, they again only want to see the first half of the sentence on the 2nd. Again they completely ignore the most important statement the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Now folks, you don't get anymore straightforward then that. It's a cut and dry statement. but somehow, whether it is that fact that most liberals were brought up in public schools or maybe they have partaken of to many special herbs, they just can't grasp the simple language of our founding Fathers.
 
We as people who have been appointed by god to be the Salt and light of the earth, cannot and must not water down our message or cover up our Faith. It is now time to show our strength and rise up against the tide of evil and sin that threatens to engulf our glorious country.

What the heck!

This story is the perfect example of why everyone should read Hugh Hewitts new book. If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat: Crushing the Democrats in Every Election and Why Your Life Depends on It

AOL's Instant Message Robot a Bush Basher

Computer savvy and interested in presidential politics, 13-year-old Erin was upset to learn that America Online's Instant Message (AIM) robot Smarter Child favored Democrat John Kerry in this year's election. Erin, whose last name is being omitted in this article, is a fan of President Bush.

Internet instant messaging is one of the most popular methods for teens and even adults to stay in touch with friends and family. One of the better known messenger programs, AIM, offers the feature called Smarter Child, a robot programmed to provide automated responses to those with whom it chats. Built and programmed by Conversagent, Inc., a privately held firm that develops technology for creating and operating interactive agents, Smarter Child is able to dispense facts and figures, movie times, or just plain conversation with AIM users.

But when Erin told the robot that George Bush is awesome, she was shocked by the response. No way. George W. Bush is way uncool, the reply stated. She asked, Do you like George W. Bush? and the program replied, I'm a Kerry supporter myself.

Testing the waters, she typed in John Kerry rocks. The robot's response: Absolutely. John Kerry rocks.

Click on the link below to read the rest of the story.
AOL's Instant Message Robot a Bush Basher

The cost of the Iraq war?

Here is a great letter that Rick Roberts(760KFMB) read on his show today.

Dear Sir (or Sirs):

I am a senior down on his luck. During the Clinton Administration I had an extremely well-paying job. I took vacations and had several very nice, furnished vacation homes.

Since President Bush took office, I have watched my entire life savings vanish. I lost my job. I lost two sons in that horrible war over in Iraq. I lost my big spacious house. As a matter of fact, I lost almost everything and became a homeless person, having to steal to get basic amenities.

Adding insult to injury, when the authorities found me living in squalor like an animal, instead of helping me, they arrested me. I will do anything to insure President Bush's defeat in the next election.

I will do anything I can, to see that John Kerry becomes the President in the White House. Bush must go. I just thought you and your listeners would like to know how one suffering senior citizen personally views the Bush Administration.

Thanking you most graciously for taking the time to read my letter,

Sincerely,

Sadaam Hussein

Well I guess the Kerry/Edward ticket has a new option for campaign spokesman.

You think the Iraqi's want this guy dead?

I stumbled on this article and it gave me a chuckle.

BAGHDAD: Brandishing assault rifles and grenade launchers, masked Islamists threatened in a taped message yesterday to behead any lawyers defending deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Saif al-Allah (The Sword of God) group, belonging to the Islamic Jihad, warns all those who defend the criminal file of the cowardly criminal Saddam ... that we will sever your necks before you arrive, one gunman read from a piece of paper.

The gunman, from a previously unknown group, said in the tape given to Reuters that the warning was for the Iraqi, Arab and foreign lawyers who have taken on the case of the criminal Saddam.

A defiant Saddam and 11 of his top lieutenants, ousted by US-led forces in April last year, stood before an Iraqi tribunal last Thursday to face charges that could lead to an indictment for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Click the link below to read the entire article.
Islamist gunmen threaten to behead Hussein's lawyers

US removes 1.8 tons of enriched uranium from Iraq

Wait a minute, I thought the liberals said that Sadam didn't have the materials needed to build a nuclear much less a dirty bomb. What else would you use 1.8 TONS on enriched Uranium for?

BAGHDAD - Iraq's interim government confirmed Thursday the United States has removed radioactive material from Iraq, saying ousted dictator Saddam Hussein could have used it to develop nuclear weapons.
U.S. and U.N. officials said Wednesday Washington had transported 1.8 tons of enriched uranium out of Iraq for safekeeping more than a year after looters stole it from a U.N.-sealed facility left unguarded by U.S. troops.
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said the uranium and about 1,000 highly radioactive items from the former Iraqi nuclear research facility had been taken to the United States.

Click the link below to read the full story.
Iraq Confirms U.S. Has Removed Nuclear Material

Bill Cosby doesn't just talk about a problem

Bill Cosby is one of those guys who is not afraid to put his money where his mouth is. He has taken a lot of flack from the liberal black community over the truthful statements he has made recently. Guys like him deserve respect instead of criticism. It took a lot of guts to get up in front of those self deprecating crowds and speak the truth.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Comedian Bill Cosby, who recently said black children are going nowhere because they don't know how to read and write, is paying for the college education of two top high school graduates who support themselves.

Click the link below to read the full story
Cosby Paying for Education of 2 Students

Cardinal Ratzinger Orders Kerry Communion Ban

It's really nice to see my former church taking such an agressive stand on this important issue.

In a private memorandum, top Vatican prelate Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger told American bishops that Communion must be denied to Catholic politicians who support legal abortion.

While never mentioning Sen. John Kerry by name, the memo implicitly aims at the pro-choice Catholic Massachusetts senator and presidential candidate.

Ratzinger's ban is broad and includes all other pro-abortion Catholic politicians who are defying the church's ban on abortion.


According the Culture of Life Foundation, which obtained a copy of the confidential document, the Cardinal began by stressing the serious nature of receiving Communion and the need for each person to make a conscious decision regarding their worthiness based on the Church's objective criteria.


But the Cardinal adds that it is not only the responsibility of the pro-abortion politicians such as Kerry to make a judgment about their worthiness to receive Communion.


It is also up to those distributing Communion to deny the sacrament to those in conflict with the Church's prohibition of abortion and the duty of office holders to oppose the procedure.

Click on the link below to read the full story.
Cardinal Ratzinger Orders Kerry Communion Ban

Quote of the day

This one is from talk show host Rick Roberts.
Just like Kerry, Edwards is a flip-flopper on every issue, and devoid of any core principles. There's nothing to trust about either one of them.

Well, I guess after the Clinton era, it's appropriate that the Democrat party nominates a couple of Johns.

A Quote from senator Edwards

Gay Marriage: "I oppose gay marriage. I also oppose President Bush's attempt to amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage." 2/24/04

Huh? So what your saying is you support and oppose same sex unions? Only John Kerry could find someone to be his running mate who accentuates his worst qualities(does he have any good ones?).

Blogs from Iraq

It's amazing how news through the eyes of ordinary Iraqis is such a stark contrast from what we see on the Alphabet Channels here. I was reading a story in our local newspaper The Daily Worker (aka the San Diego Union Tribune) which amazing enough was an actual piece of objective reporting. It gave sample excerpts from various Blogs written by normal Iraqis which talk about the first real hope of freedom that they have had in their entire lifetime. The stories range from The day to day challenges living in a country that had been raped for so many years, to joyful realization of the true meaning of freedom of speech. Below are some links to several of them.
Iraq The Model
Healing Iraq
Road Of A Nation
Iraq At A Glance
These are some great blogs. I would definitely recommend checking them out on a regular basis.
Click this link to read the UT story. Web logs offer different views of events in Iraq

Bill Cosby is not afraid to speak the truth.

CHICAGO: Bill Cosby, going off on another tirade against the black community Thursday, told a room full of activists that black children were running around not knowing how to read or write and going nowhere.

He also had harsh words for struggling black men: Stop beating up your women because you can't find a job. Dirty Laundry

Cosby made headlines in May when he upbraided some poor blacks for their grammar and accused them of squandering opportunities the civil rights movement gave them. He shot back Thursday saying his detractors were trying in vain to hide the black community's dirty laundry.

Let me tell you something, your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every day. It's cursing and calling each other n------ as they're walking up and down the street, Cosby said during an appearance at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund's annual conference.

They think they're hip, the entertainer said. They can't read; they can't write. They're laughing and giggling, and they're going nowhere.

Click the link to read the full story Bill Cosby Has More Harsh Words for Blacks

Now the hippies have an issue with GI Joe.

This one has to be filed in the OH COME ON folder.
Appeasement groups are fighting mad: To honor the troops, the Minnesota Twins are giving G.I. Joe action figures to 5,000 children.
The baseball team plans to present Duke, the calm and determined battlefield commander of the G.I. Joe team, at the game Monday night, the day after Independence Day, in what the Associated Press today called the first patriotic giveaway in the major leagues this season.
Click this link to read the full story NewsMax.com: Appeasement Activists Furious About G.I. Joe

LDS Specific Question

Brothers and sisters, why do a large group of you feel it is not right to read and listen to non LDS publications and recordings? Why do some members get all up in arms when they here that you went to a non LDS church service? There is a huge wonderful world outside of our church. I have met many wonderful people who have the blessings of God in their lives by mere faith alone. In fact there are many with the gift of prophesy that received it by Gods grace because of there faith. We find that other Christian denominations look at us with a skeptical eye because of the elitist attitude of some of our brethren. I find my self every Sabbath during sacrament meeting praying for my ward and the church that the members would give up there pridefull ways and see Gods true plan. With our organization and resources we could be an incredible ally to the rest of the Judeo/Christian community. Instead currently they view us as a cult and a hindrance. I state to you brothers and sisters that it is our duty as children of God that we change our ways from those of man(pride is a creation of man) to they way that Christ wants us to be. Open, friendly, humble, helpful, and Faithful.

A Warning For Terrorists

Click this link to see a warning to all TerroristsWhat were you thinking

America's Holy Warriors

The German TV magazine Panorama denounced Southern Baptist missionaries in Iraq as America's Holy Warriors, comparing their spiritual and humanitarian activities with Islamic terrorist attacks.

The program, shown on a major network June 24, underscored its assertions by quoting Baptists saying they are prepared to die for their convictions, reported the Assist News Service.


Many Christians telephoned the station in protest, and the German Baptist Union criticized the one-sided portrayal.

German Baptist spokesman Friedrich Schneider points out not only American, but Arab Baptists have been active in Iraq for a long time.
Click this link to read the full article Baptists denounced as 'America's Holy Warriors'

Political correctness and Barbie

Yesterday my wife emailed me at work to tell me she was not feeling well and asked if I could come home. So I took a half day and went home to help her out. About an hour or two after I got home my youngest daughter came up to me wanting daddy to solve a problem. Now up to this point I did not know that there are 2 different versions of the normal blonde Barbie. She was trying to put the capri pants from you Sponge Bob Barbie which has the traditional body type onto a politically correct body type one. For some of you this may be old news, but to me this was both amazing and horrifying epiphany. The new style Barbie apparently has wider hips, smaller breasts, and permanently affixed non removable plain white underwear. My thought it was funny to say she must be married with kids to describe the non removable plain underwear(that's a reference to the decrease of the amount of sex men and women have when they are married with kids). What has society come through when we feel that we must change Barbie do to our own insecurities about the way we look. Barbie was not created to be a replica of today's women. She is part of a fantasy world for little girls to indulge in. Again this is another attempt by the liberal left hippies to dumb down and wuss out our children. Parents we need to be aware of these subtle influences that are being used to control the minds of our children. In fact we as parents need to take a more active role in the protection of our rights to raise our children with a good solid Judeo/Christian background. These are the future leaders of the world and we must not fail at our duties to raise them right!